<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3131988" target="_blank"> link</a> The <font color="#000000">Minnesota Twins</font> and <font color="#000000">Tampa Bay Rays</font> are close to a swap of two potential future stars.</p> The Twins would acquire outfielder <font color="#000000">Delmon Young</font> in exchange for right-hander <font color="#000000">Matt Garza</font>, sources told ESPN.com's Keith Law.</p> The potential swap was first reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which reported the deal could involve as many as six players, with shortstop <font color="#000000">Jason Bartlett</font> and reliever <font color="#000000">Juan Rincon</font> going to Tampa Bay in the deal and shortstop <font color="#000000">Brendan Harris</font> and outfield prospect Jason Pridie coming to Minnesota.</p> In addition to the Young deal, the Rays are also moving toward a deal to sign reliever <font color="#000000">Troy Percival</font>, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reports.</p> Young, 22, hit .288 with 13 home runs and 93 RBIs in his first full major league season. Garza, 24, was 5-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 15 starts for the Twins in 2007.</p>
Delmon will be good but Tampa needs pitching and Matt Garza would provide that. The Rays have a lot of OFs anyways. Great trade for the Rays if it happens.</p> </p> TB</p> Rotation -- Scott Kazmir/James Shields/Matt Garza/Andy Sonnanstine/Jason Hammel</p> </p> </p> Very young but lots of potential that could break through as soon as next year. Again this is only if the deal actually happens.</p>
This is going to be a steal for the Twins. I saw Young a few times in Tampa and couldn't keep my eyes off him. He's an above average fielder and knows how to handle the lumber. Garza isn't exactly a blue-chip prospect, but he's an efficient pitcher. 5-7 with a 4.35 ERA or something like that is pretty good for pitching in the same stadium that Nick Punto hits. If I were in the TB front office, I'd look around the league a little more; the pitching staff needs a strong pitcher who can stop a skid, not a young project that may fail like Kazmir has (in my eyes). I'm pretty sure that Young can fetch some pretty damn good pitchers out there.</p>
I just read on the Rays' official site that Jason Bartlett and Juan Rincon would also be heading south.</p> </p> How's Kazmir failed? He's been above .500 each of the three full seasons he's been with the Rays, and has an ERA of about 3.50 over that span. Considering what the offense that was backing him up much of that time, I don't think its too bad.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (David_Ortiz)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> How's Kazmir failed? He's been above .500 each of the three full seasons he's been with the Rays, and has an ERA of about 3.50 over that span. Considering what the offense that was backing him up much of that time, I don't think its too bad.</p> </div></p> Kazmir was toted to be the next Orel Hershiser and he's been inconsistent. He's certainly not a bust though. Maybe if he was pitching in a more pitcher friendly enviorment with a more consistent offense he'd be as good as he was pumped up as.</p> EDIT: AHAHAHA Oral...</p>
LOL I never heard him being touted as Orel Hershisher thats foolish for someone to do that... he's a damn good pitcher though. And I forgot that the Rays also have David Price lying around so there's even more pitching potential in the future.</p>
Kaz's WHIP is scary, but he is one of the best lefties in the league.</p> I'd take him over Joba or Phil.</p>
